Idaho juvenile corrections seeks funds for radio upgrades, substance-use treatment as staff flag rising mental-health needs

The Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections on Feb. 18 told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) it needs $380,000 one-time to upgrade facility radio systems and $300,000 ongoing from the general fund to cover rising residential substance-use disorder (SUD) treatment costs, while department leaders pressed legislators for help addressing growing mental-health needs among youth in custody.

Noah Peterson, budget policy analyst for the Legislative Budget Office, told the committee the radio replacement is a one-time request from the Juvenile Corrections Endowment Income Fund to add “man down” functionality and to program radios so all three state juvenile correction centers — Lewiston, Nampa and St. Anthony — have consistent equipment and programming.

That upgrade is one of several budget changes the department presented as it explained recent spending trends and requests. Director Ashley Dowell told JFAC she is “concerned about just the level of mental health we’re seeing in the youth” and that the department has observed “an increase in criminality as well and so want to work on how best to address that and make sure that we are, properly policing and treating those kids.”

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